Get Screened—Sage Cancer Screenings

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Breast and cervical cancer screenings can save your life. Find an event near you: Breast Cancer Awareness Month Calendar (PDF).

Screenings look for cancer before you have symptoms. When cancer is caught early, it is easier to treat. Sage offers FREE screenings at participating sites for Minnesotans who meet eligibility requirements. 

On this page
Am I eligible?
How do I get screened?
What is covered?
What if I need treatment?

If you or someone you know would benefit from being screened, call 1-888-6HEALTH (1-888-643-2584).

Am I eligible?

You are eligible for FREE Sage cancer screenings if you meet gender, age, insurance, and income requirements:

Gender

• Born female or are a transgender woman (male-to-female) or transgender man (female-to-male)

Age

• Breast cancer screening: Individuals ages 40 to 64*
• Cervical cancer screening: Individuals ages 30 to 64

*Note individuals 30-39 may be eligible for Sage services if they have a breast symptom(s) or have a family history of breast cancer (self, parent, child).

Insurance

• You do not have health insurance OR
• You have health insurance but have a co-pay or unmet deductible or any out of pocket expense OR
• Your health insurance does not cover Pap tests or mammograms

Income*,**

*Self-employed or farmers: use household net income (after business expenses)

**Maximum allowable gross income is effective January 1, 2024. Guidelines change yearly. 

How do I get screened?

To schedule a screening appointment, call 1-888-6HEALTH (1-888-643-2584) or visit Appointment Scheduling for the Sage Screening Program, fill out the form, and one of our staff will contact you.

Find Sage Screening Participating Providers offering breast and cervical cancer screenings at more than 450 locations across Minnesota.

What is covered?

• Office visit for breast and/or cervical exam
• Mammogram
• For those ages 30-64, a Pap smear with reflex testing every three years, HPV testing alone, or a Pap accompanied by HPV co-testing every five years for people ages 30-64
• Follow-up office visit to review abnormal breast and/or cervical screening results

If you receive an abnormal screening, diagnostic services are also covered. 

Breast diagnostic services

• Breast surgical consult
• Diagnostic mammogram
• Breast ultrasound
• Breast biopsy
• Fine needle aspiration of breast lump, including pathology reading

Cervical diagnostic services

• Colposcopy
• Endometrial biopsy can be covered in some situations, but not for post-menopausal bleeding
• HPV testing

Note: Treatment for Sage patients without health insurance may be covered by the Medical Assistance for Breast and Cervical Cancer (MA-BC). 

Follow-up services

The Sage Program Follow-up Coordinator ensures enrolled Sage patients get complete and timely follow-up testing and services when appropriate. 

What if I need treatment?

If you met all Sage eligibility requirements and need follow up treatment, you may qualify for the following programs offered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services:

• The Medical Assistance for Breast or Cervical Cancer (MA-BC) Program provides Medical Assistance coverage to uninsured Minnesota women enrolled in the Sage Program who are in need of treatment services for a breast or cervical cancer, or pre-cancer of the cervix.
• Emergency Medical Assistance covers care and treatment of emergency medical conditions.

Patients must qualify for the Sage Program at the time of diagnosis and meet all eligibility requirements to be enrolled in MA-BC. 

For more information, contact the Sage Follow-Up Coordinator at 651-201-5904.

Support and resources for Sage patients

• Sage Patient Resources